[bphogan]

Then you're an expert. For about three months. Meanwhile while you're up to speed, things outside your organization are changing. If you're not paying attention, you end up with the proverbial "10 years of experience" comprised of 10 years of the same experience. I've seen several of my friends who just coded at work find themselves without jobs when times got tight, and unable to find a new job because they had out of date skills.

Investing in my skillset on my own time with my own rules is an investment in me. I don't particularly care if it makes me a better programmer - it's a contingency plan to make sure I can support my family in both good times and bad.